A fitting finale
On Sunday 8th October, over 380 people: performers and audience, joined in a ‘Celebration of Dance and Ukrainian Culture’ at The Exchange Sturminster.
This one off event showcased the rich heritage and diverse culture of Ukraine and the poise, elegant grace and physical strength of Kyiv City Ballet dancers.
The performance had been sold out since early September. Monica, Rob, Luba, Sue and Anna had secured their tickets within a few hours and were now ready and willing to dance!
Our fantastic compere for the evening, The Mayor of Shaftesbury, Virginia Edwyn-Jones.
A welcome from Kirill Karabits,
Some lovely messages of support from Sabrina Guiness, Tom Stoppard and Nick Robinson.
Act 1
‘The Story of a Dancer’
Tiffany Longley-Wolff helped us understand the development of a dancer as a student gains their abilities through practice, work and good teaching.
Using five steps to illustrate the development of her young students over time, we gained a real insight into the process that can lead eventually, and for some, to the life of a professional dancer.
Five steps
First Steps, Barre, Centre, Performance, Creativity
The youngest of the dancers was just 5 years old, and the TLW Mini programme presented a short piece showing some of the ‘first steps of ballet’
The TLW Junior programme, who are 8 years old and above, presented a short Barre.
Unlike spoken language, dance is a universal language, and dance is prevalent in every culture around the world, a communication of both joy and of sorrow. In a similar way, ballet training is also universal around the world, there are always of course some differences or preferences from teachers and the different classical ballet communities, but in general a Plie is a plie wherever you train in the world. Ballet dancers almost always start their training at the Barre, their very own partner - to centre themselves and train their bodies to be exceptional and well co-ordinated. Indeed whether there is a 7 year old dancer or a professional dancer they will often start their dance class at the barre.
The TLW Junior programme, at Barre.
After the barre, dancers in training will make their way to the centre, and practice exercises which will eventually become so well established they can perform them in complex variations to an expert level. The barre is their starting place, but dancers use the barre to help them perfect their centre. Ballet training is repetitive, to train your body and mind to a high classical level takes hours/months/years of dedication and determination, there are no short cuts. The end result though is always worth it!
The TLW Intermediate programme, who are 11 years old and above, presented a short combination of centre practice.
After all the hours of training at the Barre and in the Centre, the main aim for a dancer is to step on to the stage! Performing is a huge part of dance, and the hours of prior training can give a dancer the confidence to take this step. Just like technique though, performance needs practicing and perfecting, and is just as important to make a great dancer.
The TLW senior programme, who are 12 years old and above, performed a piece where performance was key to promote atmosphere and show joy!
Performance and Joy!
Often people question, is dance an art or a sport? For sure, dancers have to train as hard as an athlete, but there is no competition in a performance, and there is no clear winner - as dance, like art, is subjective.
As well as being as strong and powerful as an athlete, a dancer needs to be creative in order to produce the powerful connections to an audience and explore new realms and ideas to keep dance growing and evolving.
The last of our pieces from TLW, before moving on to the professional stage of a dancer with the Kyiv City Ballet performers, was a piece that mixed classical ballet with a more contemporary feel, to allow the dancers to explore the creativity one can use when reflecting music.
The dancers who created and performed ‘Experience’, were from the TLW Youth Dance Company and were aged 13 years and older.
The 5 performances from TLW Dance were quite wonderful and most amazingly the students had learnt the pieces in just the 4 lessons.
Beyond a dance school are the ballet schools that recruit and train apprentice dancers.
In 2022 Anastasiia was on the brink of this next step when she was forced from her home in Ukraine and came to Gillingham with her Mum and brother. With the support of her family, hosts and TLW Dance she applied for, auditioned for and then was accepted for a place at the English Opera Ballet School.
Apprentice dancer, Anastasiia Lobanovska, now at The Royal Academy of Dance, captivated us all.
The important step of joining a ballet school demands skill and hard work and the ability to remain focused on dance, even when, in the case of Anastasiia, one has been displaced by conflict.
Anastasiia danced the part of ‘Candide’ to the music of Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
And so, in our story of development, we came to the culmination of years of dedication, practice and sometimes pain: the professional’s life as a dancer. We are finally able to meet the Stars of Kyiv City Ballet.
In a piece choregraphed by Ivan and Ekaterina to the music of Debussy, we were shown the continuing place of Barre, Centre and Performance in a dancer’s life.
Enjoy this elegant piece in the gallery featuring:
Kristina Kadashevych
Mykhailo Shcherbakov
David Wall
Olesia Tymchyshyn
The beauty and grace of the astonishing Kyiv City Ballet dancers left us speechless, and applauding wildly, as the first Act came to a close.
Interval
Halyna and Okhsana’s children entertained people in the busy interval by giving a piano recital.
Act 2
‘A Celebration of Ukrainian Culture’
The audience were immediately stunned and delighted in equal measure as Avrora and Severian Predmiestina performed with Demian Starostin in a demonstration by the Cossack branch of SPAS.
Larysa Sotnykova and Oksana Khorunzha sang two folk songs in perfect harmony.
"Oy tam na gori" ("Ой там на горі") is a traditional Ukrainian song from Poltava region.
"Chom ty ne pryishov" ("Чом ти не прийшов") is a traditional Ukrainian song from Lemko region.
The slide show of the cities of Ukraine reminded the auditorium of what has been put at risk following the invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and again in 2022.
Liudmyla Oliinychenko read, ‘And Everything in the World Must be Experienced’, by Lina Kostenko. (a poem about living in the moment and living life well)
Reading her memorised lines beautifully in both Ukrainian and English, whilst the scenes of rural Ukraine showed the glory of its countryside, this was a special moment for us all.
The musical accompaniment was ‘Melody in A Minor’ by Myroslav Skoryk, a piece frequently described as the spiritual hymn of Ukraine.
With the stage lighting shifting to reflect the colours of Ukraine, we moved seamlessly, into three beautiful and lyrical pieces of ballet.
We were treated to some very precious moments, bringing us Together in Dance, an expression of harmony on stage and in the Stour Hall.
David Wall and Ella-Jane Slingsby danced ‘Liebe’, to the music of Schubert, (impromptu no3 op 90).
Olesia Tymchyshyn danced the Cupid Dance from Don Quixote, to the music of L. Minkus.
Kristina Kadashevych, Principal Dancer, Kyiv City Ballet
‘The Dying Swan’. Music by Saint-Saens.
A review of this outstanding performance, posted the following evening by Fanny Charles, editor of The Fine Times Recorder said:
“In literally dozens of interpretations I have seen over the years, I have never seen this poignant work more movingly or beautifully accomplished.”
We were privileged to be there to witness it.
Waiting in the wings were Palida Choir, led by Karen Wimhurst and coached in three Ukrainian songs by Halyna Bondarenko, sung by the choir with soloist Marta Shevchenko.
A Ukrainian Prayer. Назви пісень: "Українська молитва",
Oy u luzi Chervona Kalyna. Ой у лузі червона калина",
Oh I don't want war(Marta as soloist) "Я не хочу війни"(пісня Марти)
For many of us, these three songs were amongst the most moving aspects of our evening together.
The unity in the Hall was tangible as English and Ukrainian words and composers were mingled to evoke the loss of peace, felt by us all, due to the war in Ukraine.
Karen Wimhurst and Palida Choir.
Soloist, Marta Shevchenko. Musical guidance by Halyna Bondarenko.
Our finale approached…
Mykhailo Shcherbakov danced a variation of ‘Jose’ from ‘Carmen Suite’. Music by Bizet.
And our final dancer was Yevhenii Sheremet, who has brought our community such joy this week with his charm and smile.
He raised our spirits once again with a spirited variation of ‘Ostap’ from Taras Bulba’. Music by Soloiev-Sedoy.
Our final act of community, singing together, The National Anthem of Ukraine
A curtain call for Anastasiia, Avrora, Severien, Demian, Larysa and Oksana
And an ovation for The Stars of Kyiv City Ballet from a delighted audience.
It had been an amazing week of kindness, support and community and this was a fitting finale.
Thank you North Dorset, thank you the people of Ukraine and thank you Kyiv City Ballet.
Some thanks for the people, without whom, the night would not have been possible .
Andrea from The Dressmaker’s Studio in Swan’s Yard, Shaftesbury whose skills as a couturier produced the costume that enabled Kristina to dance her remarkable piece.
The beaded bodice and headdress exquisitely crafted by Andrea.
Nick and Di Wharam who brought Larysa and Oksana from Poole at the 11th hour.
Natalie of Sorelle who provided artists’ flowers.
Mary Bondarenko and Dima Lobanovska who helped with the playlists of incidental music and file conversions.
Imad and Bayan who cooked a wonderful buffet of Syrian food, for artists and technicians alike, including, ‘the best olives I have ever tasted’ according to Carolyn, our Chair.
Imad and Bayan are marvellous supporters of our events and our charity. We can only ask that you visit them at Kabab Ji
Sharon and all The Exchange volunteers who maintained a safe theatre, took the tickets so promptly and helped us all get served at the interval.
There was just one day to rehearse and put on the show. So a huge thanks to the volunteer technicians: Mikey, Andrew, Adam, Hannah and the forgiving artists and Directors of Kyiv City Ballet.
Thanks to our resident artist, Johnny Bull, who was at the rehearsal to be inspired. He has been on this trip for many months.
Our thanks to the organisations who made the week possible .
And a final image of David and Ella-Jane in rehearsal. An image taken by Jamie Randall, like all the others and too good to miss. A token of our appreciation to them for visiting us in North Dorset,. as members of Kyiv City Ballet.
All photos on this page copyright Randallphotos.
Used with the permission of Jamie Randall.
